UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | In a decisive move to address the escalating land conflicts in the Bunyoro Sub-region, Gen. David Muhoozi, the State Minister of Internal Affairs, has issued a directive to the police land protection unit.
The minister instructed the unit to meticulously document all land-related cases within the Bunyoro Sub-region within the next two weeks.
The decision came during a high-level meeting organised by the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs, Jennifer Kacha Namuyangu, in Hoima City on Friday 15th December 2023.
Gen. Muhoozi identified the root cause of the increasing land conflicts in Bunyoro as impunity among some government officials.
He emphasised that efforts to resolve land issues would be futile unless the issue of powerful and corrupt officials acting with impunity is effectively addressed.
During the meeting, Gen. Muhoozi directed Johnson Olala Dale, the commandant of the land protection unit, to investigate reported illegal evictions in Ndiaga, Kagadi District.
Unknown individuals allegedly torched houses, leaving several people homeless. Gen. Muhoozi stressed the importance of restoring the integrity of land titles, emphasising that land titles should not be mere pieces of paper, but citizens should be educated about their rights.
As the former Chief of Defence Forces and the professional head of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Gen. Muhoozi cautioned officers against abusing their powers in land-related conflicts.
He acknowledged the numerous challenges in the Bunyoro sub-region and urged the Ministry of Lands to organise interactive sessions with communities to find sustainable solutions.
Gen. Muhoozi further directed the security forces to investigate allegations of individuals being imprisoned on fabricated charges.
Harriet Businge, the Hoima Woman Member of Parliament, raised concerns about rampant land eviction cases, blaming security personnel for not taking appropriate action.
Businge highlighted recent evictions in Kapapi and Buraru sub-counties, where the Minister for Lands ordered affected individuals to return to their homes, but security denied them access to their land.
She warned that without immediate government intervention, many families in Bunyoro would face the risk of being rendered landless.
Banabas Tinkasimire, the Buyaga West Member of Parliament, called on the government to address the issue of absentee landlords who, despite being compensated, still threaten to evict people.
He specifically mentioned areas in Kagadi District facing eviction threats.
In 2013, the government formulated a comprehensive National Land Policy to guide the efficient and equitable utilisation of Uganda’s land.
Gen. Muhoozi expressed confidence that the new policy would provide solutions, especially regarding land tenure systems, and help address conflicts on customary-owned land.
Jennifer Kacha Namuyangu, the State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs, highlighted the grave challenges of land grabbing in the region.
She pointed out the involvement of some security members in these activities and emphasised the urgent need for government intervention to prevent further displacements.
Namuyangu described the current wave of evictions as appalling, with many families forced to spend nights in the open.
Richard Juuko, the undersecretary in the Ministry of Lands, revealed that the ministry had cancelled several illegally acquired land titles in different Bunyoro districts.
Juuko outlined plans to decentralise the land information system to district levels, enabling easier access to information about land statuses.
The move aims to empower citizens with the necessary tools to safeguard their land rights.
The article also highlighted specific cases of brutal evictions in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties earlier this year, involving clashes between residents and a local tycoon.
The affected families, predominantly cultivators and pastoralists, faced violence and displacement in a dispute over land ownership.
According to the 2020-2021 Justice, Law, and Order Sector (JLOS) Annual report, there was a backlog of 30,508 land cases, with 10,436 new cases registered in the subsequent year.
The total number of land cases reached 40,944, with 22.7% completed and 77.3% pending. This backlog highlights the challenges faced by the justice system in handling land-related disputes in the country.
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